chicken in a trance

[omelette'smom]

I watched a show on nat. geo. or something where you lie a chicken of their back, head to the ground, drag your finger on the ground from the tip of the beak, slowly outward for about a foot. they watch your finger and go into a trance. you can leave them that way for a while and they snap out of it. it's a defense tactic in all birds so that hawks etc think they're dead and won't attack. my daughter tried it yesturday (on a very friendly and calm hen) and it worked! we now call her the chicken whisperer and she loves the attention!! The show also showed aligators or was it croc if they are on their backs if you rub under their chins (?) they won't move either!! NOT RECOMMENDED TO TRY!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

 

[omelette'smom]

Oh yeah, I used to work at a lobster pound and if you put lobsters in a head stand and rub their tails, they don't move either!! we used to line up a dozen or so and put them to sleep until we get yelled at to go back to work. (friend's dad owned the pound so we just kinda got pay checks for being cute kids....i don't remember ever having to do much but boy i always managed to stink when i got home!!)

 

[gritsar]

My SO showed me the chicken trance thing when mine were little. I made him stop. It didn't bother the chickens, but it creeped me out.

 

[Wynette]

I could swear I remember reading on here that you're not supposed to put them on their backs or upside down for long periods...?

 

[BawkinOnTheBench]

Oh yes, DH loves to show people how he can 'hypnotize' a chicken. Once, years ago, he even did it to someone else's chicken. We went to a horse show, and were boarding our horse on a nearby farm, and there were chickens, and he grabbed one and did his act. It's become a barn legend.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I believe you are correct Wynette. Their lungs are located more to the back and they can suffocate.
My SO doesn't put them on their backs to do the trance thing. He just uses the flat of his hand to gently push their heads down until their beaks touch the floor. Still works, just funny looking.

 

[omelette'smom]

Like I said, it's a built in self defense mechanism that birds have. I don't think the blood rushes to the head or anything harmful or it would be a self inflicted trauma!? The show also had a clip of 3 pigeons who flipped themselves on their backs until a bird of prey flew away....it was kinda creepy!

 

[Wynette]

Wow....interesting. Whoda thunk it?

 

[pennyhaddock]

Does anyone know if this will work on guinea fowl? I need to calm one down in order to splint the leg and it would be great to "trance" her just long enough to help her. Any info would be great- thanks!